Anglican Festivals
The Anglican Church evolved in England from the Roman Catholic Church when Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine to Britain to bring the Celtic Church, which was then prevalent in Britain, more firmly under its influence. Anglican actually means "of England," giving a hint to its origin, but the church has since gained a following across the world. The church celebrates key festivals through the Christian calendar including Christmas, Lent and Easter.
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Christmas Season Festivals
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The Anglican Church holds three principal festivals over the Christmas season. The first is called the festival of Christ the King, also known as Stir-up Sunday. It takes place on the Sunday before Advent and marks the end of the church year. The second is Advent, which takes place on the four Sundays before Christmas Day and is the time of preparation and waiting for Jesus' coming. Christmas is celebrated by the Anglican Church as the day of Jesus Christ's birth.
Post-Christmas Festival
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Following the Christmas season, the Anglican Church celebrates epiphany on January 6. The festival commemorates the visitation of the three wise men to the baby Jesus. The church celebrates Candlemas on February 2, which marks the end of Epiphany. Candles lighted on Candlemas are blessed and the feast commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the temple.
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Shrove Tuesday and Lent Festivals
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The Anglican Church celebrates Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, on the day before Lent begins. Traditionally the congregation went to church to be "shriven," which was to confess their sins and be forgiven. More recently, people have taken to cooking and consuming pancakes on the day. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Traditionally, ash created by burning the previous years Palm crosses, which were blessed on Palm Sunday, is used to mark a cross on the forehead of church attendees as a sign of their repentance. Lent encompasses a 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and symbolizes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert wilderness. It's considered a time of preparation for Easter.
Easter Festivals
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The Anglican Church celebrates holy week in the seven days leading up to Easter. It includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. On Easter Sunday the church celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his Crucifixion and subsequent death.
Post-Easter Festivals
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On the fifth Sunday in the season of Easter, the Anglican Church holds Rogation Sunday, which traditionally involved a procession or walk around the parish boundaries. In the countryside, this festival involved blessing of fields and crops. Ascension Day is celebrated on the 40th day following Easter and always takes place on a Thursday. It marks the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Ten days later the church celebrates Pentecost on the 50th day after Easter. It commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, and also marks the birth of the church. Finally, in the festival of the trinity, the Anglican Church celebrates the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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References
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